Princess Elizabeth Windsor (1/18)

Introducing Elizabeth

In 1926 the Duke and Duchess of York had their first child. British Pathé filmed the monarchy many times that year and worked with Princess Mary a lot, George V's only daughter, but they didn't produce a newsreel announcement for Elizabeth's birth.

Of course no one could have predicted that the King's son Edward would one day abdicate, meaning that Elizabeth could become Queen through her father Albert. And so the lady that British Pathe would one day dedicate hundreds of reels to was born almost unnoticed.

This is the earliest picture we have of Elizabeth. Her grandmother, Queen Mary of Teck is holding her aged 2 on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. The nation is celebrating King George V's return to health after an illness.